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How far would you go for publicity?
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Started this discussion. Last reply by Jaden Terrell Jan 18, 2010.

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Karen E. Olson

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Hometown:: North Haven, CT

About Me:: Twenty years of working in newsrooms with mice, moldy carpeting, out-of-date computer systems, cranky editors, weird reporters and an even odder public lends itself nicely to writing a mystery series about a reporter whose affinity for the f-word has made me a target for little old ladies who like to email me about their displeasure with that. My books In the Annie Seymour mystery series are SACRED COWS, SECONDHAND SMOKE, DEAD OF THE DAY, and SHOT GIRL, which will be out in November 2008.

I am also currently writing the first in a mystery series about a tattoo shop owner in Las Vegas. THE MISSING INK will be out in July 2009. There is no cursing in this book. Have to give the readers options.

I Am A:: Writer

Website:: http://www.kareneolson.com

Books And Authors I Like:: I like the usual suspects, and I lean toward darker, noirish stories rather than cozies.

Movies And TV Shows I Like:: The Palm Beach Story; All the Presidents' Men; The Full Monty; Rebecca; Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.

The Amazing Race; The Wire; American Idol; Project Runway; Tony Bourdain's No Reservations; Extras.

Author of the Annie Seymour mystery series

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Secondhand Smoke

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Karen E. Olson's Blog

Coming out from under the rock

Haven't been over here in ages. Frantically writing the first of a new mystery series about a tattoo shop owner in Las Vegas. It's the ultimate write what you DON'T know, since I have no tattoos, don't plan to get one, and I've lived in New England most of my life. Just got back from a trip to Vegas, where I did a lot of driving around and taking notes and pictures. Everything's brown there. And hot. That whole thing about "dry" heat? Heat is heat, wet or dry.

And if I didn't have… Continue

Posted on June 29, 2008 at 2:25am

DEAD OF THE DAY is out today!

Today is the official pub date of my new Annie Seymour mystery, DEAD OF THE DAY (although I have heard that anyone who preordered it on Barnes & Noble.com got it ages ago).

To commemorate the event, I am embarking on a virtual book tour. Please come visit the blogs I'm guesting on, some you probably have heard of, others possibly not. Here's my schedule for the week:

Today, Tuesday, Nov. 6

Every Word's a…

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Posted on November 6, 2007 at 11:12pm

Extreme makeovers

I'm straddling publishers at the moment: Grand Central Publishing will put out my second Annie Seymour book, SECONDHAND SMOKE, in paperback in November, and NAL/Obsidian will be publishing the third in the series, DEAD OF THE DAY, at the same time.

But their covers will make them look like they're from two different series.

My editor told me that my new book covers were going to get a makeover because of the publisher changeover, and I was pretty excited about it. And…

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Posted on August 31, 2007 at 7:00am — 3 Comments

It's been a long time

I've been totally lax over here at Crimespace — and other places — while finishing up the fourth Annie Seymour book, SHOT GIRL. The book's not expected on my editor's desk until Oct. 1, but I want to get it in really good shape before I send it off to her, and the journalist in me won't let me miss a deadline :) Right now it's with a couple of readers, a couple have already gotten back to me and I'm tweaking.

A book is never completely done. In fact, once the book is… Continue

Posted on July 19, 2007 at 11:16am

Thanks to Bryon, a time saver

Because I've been so busy with the first draft of my fourth book, I haven't had much time to spend over here at Crimespace. But my good friend Bryon Quertermous has given me a wonderful idea so I can keep up here, and over at my blog at First Offenders. Cross posting. I'll start here, and you can link over there to get the full picture. It's less time consuming, and I can still stay in touch with everyone over here.…

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Posted on April 12, 2007 at 7:52am

Comment Wall (24 comments)

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At 2:09pm on September 11, 2008, L.J. Sellers said…: I'll have to read some of your series before my stint on the newspaper reporter panel at Bouchercon. I'm a magazine journalist, so I'm nervous about being prepared.

At 4:22pm on July 29, 2008, Daniel Hatadi said…: Just saw the article on you in the NY Times. Very cool!

At 1:16pm on March 16, 2008, A. N. Smith said…: So I dumped facebook and got right back on here. But there's no Scrabble. Shit.

At 4:37am on December 31, 2007, Mari Sloan said…: I like the way you describe your reporter background on your author's page. I'm betting your characters in your books are a lot of fun to read, and you will be fun to know. A background of decidedly odd people makes for great writing.
:-)
Mari

At 3:34pm on December 4, 2007, Karyn J. Powers said…: Can't wait to get my hands on Dead of the Day. I hooked my sisters on "Annie" (especially my sister, Ann). Congrats, woman, and Happy Holidays!

At 11:21am on September 28, 2007, JackBludis said…: The term "literary" writing always frosts me.

So many, when they say, "I write literary fiction," mean, "I'm a real writer, and other's aren't."

I don't write literary fiction, I just write the best I can.

At 6:40am on September 5, 2007, Clea Simon said…: Excellent cover! Looking forward to this one.

At 6:01am on August 11, 2007, J.D. Rhoades said…: Just finished SECONDHAND SMOKE...it was great. Annie's my kind of girl. Look forward to reading the rest.

At 12:00am on May 30, 2007, Nichole R. Bennett said…: Hi Karen! Great meeting you at Mayhem.

At 2:26pm on April 22, 2007, Karyn J. Powers said…: Hi Karen, I found your series and love your characters. Now I've been sending your books to my sisters around the state. (life's too short to wait for library books) I love the slightly shady father from Vegas.